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Atom Critical Temperature Imperial Stout

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Critical Temperature was aged for a month on 4 kilos of coffee beans, allowing a long and slow extraction of the essential compounds. Named after the critical temperature in thermodynamics. Atom's showpiece dark beer — coffee-forward, warming, and complex.

ABV
10%
Bitterness
Very bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark45
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedcoffeechocolate
roasted
coffee
chocolate
dark fruit
earthy
Aroma
The nose leads with bold roasted malt and coffee—the latter dominant and clean, a result of the month-long extraction on whole beans.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Atom Critical Temperature Imperial Stout

◎ Appearance

Opaque dark brown to near-black in the glass, with a viscous, tan head that shows fine retention and distinct lacing. The body is dense and glossy, characteristic of the style's high gravity. Carbonation is moderate, lending a soft visual texture without excessive effervescence.

opaque dark browndense bodypersistent headmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bold roasted malt and coffee—the latter dominant and clean, a result of the month-long extraction on whole beans. Dark chocolate and cocoa powder emerge beneath, with undertones of dried stone fruit and a subtle earthy backbone. The alcohol warmth is present but restrained, integrating without sharpness.

coffee-forwardroasted maltdark chocolatedried fruit notes

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and full-bodied, with roasted grain and espresso leading the palate. The mid-palate develops layered chocolate and subtle fruit character—plum and raisin—while restrained bitterness (65 IBU) provides structure without dominating. The 10% ABV sits warmly in the background, contributing richness rather than heat, and the finish carries earthy, coffee-grain dryness.

smooth entrycoffee and chocolaterestrained bitternesswarming alcohol

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is long and dry, with lingering roasted malt and coffee notes fading slowly. A light bitter-earthy residue persists on the palate, grounding the finish without astringency.

long dry finishcoffee persistence
84
hopIQ score
Aroma
86
Taste
85
Appearance
82
Finish
81
Serve at 13–16°C

Slightly warmer than you might expect. 10–13°C lets the roasted malt, chocolate and coffee notes open up fully.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Can be cellared 2–5 years. Develops dark fruit, leather and port-like complexity with age.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Atom Critical Temperature Imperial Stout

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About Imperial Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Imperial Stout?

Stouts are dark ales with roasted barley character, 4–8% ABV and IBU 25–45. Expect coffee, dark chocolate and toast flavors with a creamy body and dry finish.

Finding a similar Imperial Stout

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, coffee, chocolate character as Atom Critical Temperature Imperial Stout will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Imperial Stout beers in hopIQ →New to Imperial Stout? Read our guide →Browse United Kingdom beers →